Method and blank for making safety-razor blades



M. B. BEHRMAN ET AL METHOD AND BLANK FOR MAKING SAFETY RAZOR BLADES Dec. 3, 1929.

Filed June 29, 1927 u i s 1 2 7 1 ATT Patented Dec. 3, i929 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE MARCUS l3. BEHRMAN, OF BROOKLYN, AND ROBERT '1. lP'OLLOOK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., .ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AMERICAN SAFETY RAZOR CORPORATION, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

METHOD AND BLANK FOR -MAKING SAFETY-RAZOR BLADES Application filed June as,

Our present invention relates generally to safety razor blades and involves the production of a razor blade of the wafer type having new and improved features, and also the proa duction of such type of blade by a new and improved process and a paratus.

We have found that w ere, in the processing of blades-whether in strip form or otherwise-the strip or the individual blade blanks in are either held stationary for the processing operations or are moved along for such operations, by means whichare in themselves either movable relatively to the platform along which the blades are being fed or upon which it the blades are held, or are made up of parts which are movable relatively to each other, inaccuracies in the processing operations result.

One of the objects of our invention, briefly an stated, is to have the positioning of the blades for processing operations defined or controlled by a fixed and immovable portion of the platform, and with this in view our invention involves, in one of its aspects, the 525 provision in the blank or strip from which the blade or blades are to be formed, of. a groove or grooves arranged to coact with a fined part of the table or base of the processing apparatus.

in the manufacture of blades from a strip or ribbon of steel, it is frequently if not generally the practice, where the blades are hardened while still in strip form, to score the strip while the metal is soft and then to break away the strip along these scored lines after the metal has been hardened. llhere we have attempted to employ such a process in connec tion with the strip in which there has been formed a groove or ridge running continu-* ously of and longitudinally along the strip, we have found decided disadvantages resulting from the fact that when the blanks are brolren away along the scored lines, the ridged or grooved portion will not break clean.

Another and further object of our invention therefore is the provision of an arrangement whereby the groove or ridge formed in the blade and which, as stated, serves advantall geously in connection with our manner of 19%. Serial Illa. 202,417.

processing the blade, is made up of a series of spaced grooves, the spaces in between the grooves representing portions which have no grooved or raised portion therein so that the blade can be broken away along such intermediate portion or portions.

We have found, further, thatthe employrnent of a discontinuous groove,or rather of a plurality of grooves, with a space between each two adjacent grooves, can, for the purposes of the strip or blank feeding, and for the purposes of the processing, be given the efl'ect of a continuous groove, by actually removing the material in between the adjacent terminals of the adjacent grooves so that we not only thereby attain the advantageous effects of the discontinuity of the grooves for the scoring and breaking-away phase of the blade processing, but also attain the ed'ect of the continuous groove from the standpoint of the feeding phase of the processing operation.

Another object of our invention, therefore, is-the provision and arrangement whereby the ribbon or strip of material when processed will have all the attributes of having a continuous groove therein from the standpoint of feeding, and all the attributes of having a discontinuous groove therein from the standpoint of scoring and breaking away.

When the blade processingbperation is carried on in connection with the employ ment of a ribbon or strip of metal, we have found that in initially forming the ribbon or strip it has a tendency to arc. mean that while the width of the strip may be the same throughout the length thereof, and the opposite edges may be parallel at all points, these edges will curve and the strip itself will not be straight. lln accordance with our process, in which, as already stated, we form in the strip a ridge or groove, the position of this ridge or groove is predetermined by the opposite edges of the strip and this groove is therefore formed parallel to such edges. The processing operation is then, in turn, governed by the position of this groove so formed, so that at all times the symmetrical relationship of the feeding and position- By this i a till hill

llltl lllll ing of the strip, which is determined by the groove therein, is maintained constant.

From the aspect of the blade itself, one of the objects of our invention is the provision of a safety razor blade in which there is employed a minimum of metalper linear unit of cutting edge, without impairing the efficiency of the blade, either from the standpoint of the rigidity of the blade or of the character of its cutting edge, or of the positioning of the blade in the holder. From this aspect, the presence of the ridge, its dimensions, and the relation of these dimensions to those of the blade, are important factors. They not only reinforce and stiffen the blade in the direction of the ridge and of the cutting edge or edges of the blade, but also stiffen the blade against any flexing of an edge in a direction diagonally of the cutting edge thereof.

In accordance with one embodiment of our invention herein illustrated, the finished blades produced in accordance with our disclosure herein are cut away along the opposite side edges so as to produce slots or notches with a ridge running all the way across the blade and connecting the inner walls of the notches. From the standpoint of securing the blade in .fixed association with a razor, this construction has certain very important advantages because of the fact that the presence of the notches in the blades and of the grooves or ridges connecting them, enables the blade to be held in position not only by the coaction of the notches or slots with portions of the razor or holder but also by coaction of the ridge or groove therewith. By associating these two features in a blade, and particularly by associating them together, in a manner to be more fully pointed out hereinafter, a result is obtained which cannot be obtained when either is used by itself.

Where a blade presents irregularities in its surface, such as is the case in the type herein illustrated, the problem of stacking is one that must be taken into consideration, and one of the objects of our invention is the provision of an arrangement whereby the ridges formed in the blades not only do not interfere with the stacking of the blades, but, to the contrary, are caused to assist materially in such stacking.

While we have illustrated in the drawings embodiments of our invention in which the blades are made from a ribbon or strip of metal and are processed while in strip form, it will be understood that, as to phases of our invention, it has broader aspects and this illustration is not to be taken as limiting our invention unless such limitation is specifically called for by the language of the claims.

A still further object of our invention is the provisionof a magazine holder for the blades so that a number of blades can be associated together in packaged or stacked form to form a blade magazine which will be simple and inexpensive, and with which the blades can be associated and from which the the provision of a new type of razor blade and of a new method and apparatus for the manufacture of such a blade.

For the attainment of these objects and such other objects as may hereinafter be pointed out, we have illustrated embodiments of our invention in the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a strip of metal already treated as to its contours and ready for the processing operation.

Fig. 2 is intended to illustrate the use of the strip of Fig. 1 in the processing operation.

Fig. 2A is a section taken on line 33 of Fig.2.

Fig. 3 shows the completed blade.

B Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 5 shows the method of stacking the blades rendered possible by our invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view partly broken away of our blade magazine holder.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the magazine holder of Fig. 6 with the blades associated therewith.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. l of another embodiment of our invention.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of the blade in accordance with the embodiment of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is another embodiment of a magazine holder with blades received therein in accordance with the embodiment of Fig. 9.

Before proceeding to describe our invention, we will premise that our invention will be disclosed in connection with the process of manufacturing razor blades, wherein a strip of metal 10 is treated either in a continuous process or by successive steps to produce razor blades continuously and involves the treatment (1) to harden and otherwise prepare the metal; (2) to define the blade size and contours; (3) to provide a cutting edge or cutting edges thereon. The order in which these steps are performed is not a factor'as to the broader aspects of our invention. This is also true as to the maintaining of the metal in strip form during one or more, or all, of these steps. It will be further understood that the production of a double fit) adistinct variation and presents functions and factors not present in a single edged blade.

Broadly stated, our invention has in view the attainment of the following, and will be so described; (1) a new type of blade which can be held to a holder in a more eflective manner than hitherto; (2) a new type of blade which presents numerous advantages from the standpoint of the blade as a cutting instrument and also from the standpoint of the packaging and stacking of such blades; (3) a new method and apparatus for manufacturing blades from a strip or ribbon of metal.

Upon viewing Fig. l of the drawings, it will be observed that we here show a metal strip or ribbon that has already been treated in accordance with our new process so as to provide on this strip a series of openlugs 11 equidistantly spaced along the strip, and where double edged blades are to be formed these openings are preferably positioned centrally and longitudinally of the strip and in longitudinal registration with each other, and are dimensioned and contoured and positioned so as to be symmetrical with reference to the edges 12 and 13 of the strip. The metal between adjacent openings if is treated in any preferred or desired man ner so as to raise it out ofthe plane of the strip to provide the raised ridges 15 which also, in the embodiment herein specifically illustrated in connection with the production of a double edged blade, arein registration with each other and extend generally longitudinallyand centrally of the strip. The openings ll and the grooves 15 can be formed in the strip in any preferred or desired manner and in any preferred or desired order. For example, the two can be formed simultaneously and in one operation, or they can be formed one after the other, and either one first. So also the ridges 15 can be formed before the strip is hardened, as for example by the use of proper scorings while the metal is soft, and as far as the blade of Fig. 2 is concerned it is not absolutely essential that these two steps be performed while the metal is in strip or ribbon form.

Adjacent openings ll define the lnmts of the individual blades, and as shown at in show the strip 10 in position for processing, with the concavity 15 received over a guide ridge fixed to a platform of the processing apparatus, and as far as the coaction of the guide 25 and the concavity 15" are concerned it is absolutely immaterial whether the blade processing takes place while the strip is in movement, or during the period between movements when the strip is at rest. The important feature of our invention is that the strip is provided with a depression which is received over a fixed and immovable part of the platform, so that the proper positioning of the strip for processing is not dependent upon any movable element or elements.

The ridges 15 formed in the strip as shown are in effect a single ridge or groove interrupted at predetermined points. This perunits of the formation of the ridges 15 as a continuous process, and in fact as a contin uous ridge if desired, the removal of material to form openings ll converting the uninterrupted ridge into an interrupted one. "due of the important results attained thereby is that when the strip is arced, that is, .not

straight, the interrupted groove 15 being formed by employing the edges of the strip as guides will follow these edges and be symmetrical with reference thereto. Another important feature of this interrupted groove is that for purposes of positioning of'the strip for processing, as shown in Fig. 2, the groove is in effect a continuous one, whereas for purposes of breaking away the'strip along the scored line 20 (see Fig. l) the interruptions in the groove are of extreme importance, as will now be pointed out.

lln scoring the strip of metal for the purpose of breaking away the individual blade blanks, we have found that any attempt to break away the blade across a grooved or ridged portion not only makes the operation more diflicult but also has a tendency to give a break across the metal which is not clean. By interrupting the groove, and particularly by interrupting it in the manner shown in Fig. l of the drawings, we are thus enabled to obtain on the one hand what, in effect, for the purpose of the feeding and positioning of the strip, is a continuous groove and which, on the other hand, for the purpose of breaking up the strip into blade blanks, is a discontinuous groove,

As the processing of the separated blade blanks or of the strip, as the case maybe, is not a feature of our invention, it is unnecessary to enter into any description thereof in this application except to state that it may be of a conventional character and may be performed by apparatus of a conventional type. Here, also, as to the broad phases of Mill my invention, the processing may be of the individual blade blanks 0r blades themselves and not of the strip.

The order of the processing steps, asalready stated with reference to the other steps, is not an essential feature of our invention except that from the standpoint of the processing, either the strip or the individual blade blanks shall be of the general character 7 shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

. From the standpoint of the characteristics ofthe blade itself (see Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings), we have attained advantages which are directed (a) to characteristics of the blade apart from its association with the safety razor; (b) to characteristics of the blade which give or serve functions when associated with a razor; and (c) to characteristics of the blade which are particularly valuable from a standpoint of stacking and handling.

The theoretical ideal in a cutting instrument is the production of a cutter which consists only of a cutting edge, and in Fig. 3 of the drawings we have shown an arrangement in which the maximum linear length use of a minimum amount of metal.

of cutting edge has been provided withTtlhe is we have attained by devising a critical relationship in a double edged blade between the distance across the blade from cutting edge to cutting edge and the character of the ridge construction interposed therebetween and already referred to above.

One of-the desirable characteristics of a cutting edge is that it shall remain straight, or in other words that one part of the edge shall not flex out of the plane of the rest of the cutting edge, and in attempting to attain the ideal blade above mentioned this factor must be kept in mind; and in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawingswe have produced a blade which not only provides a maximum linear cutting edge but also has a cutting edge which is relatively rigid, at least in so far as flexing of one part of the blade with reference to the other is concerned.

Upon viewing Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be observed that the distance from the cutting edge 50 to the cutting edge 51 is relatively small with reference to the length of the blade, that is, the distance from side Wall to side wall, and in fact is actually rather small in linear dimensions,'being in actual practice approximately less than onehalf inch, and one-quarter of this distance, namely, one-eighth inch. is taken up by the ridge. The distance, therefore, from the cutting edge 30, for example, to the nearest point 32 of the ridge 15 is less than threesixteenths of an inch. It will therefore be understood that any tendency of the edge of the blade to buckle or to curve will be prevented by the stiffness or rigidity which this ridge 15 gives to the blade edge. In other words, while the ridge may not act to prevent the blade as a whole bending about the ridge 15, it will act to prevent the cutting edges from curving, buckling or otherwise flexing.

This result is due to the fact that the distance between the cutting edge 30 and the beginning of the groove 32 is comparatively small, even though the distance from the cutting edge 30 to the cutting edge 31 may be relatively large.

The blade of Fig. 3 of the drawing is provided along its side edges and intermediate the cutting edges 30 and 31 with the slots or cutouts 25 and 36 and these slots or cutouts are connected by the channels or ridges to which the reference character 15 has already been given. This conjoint use of these two features, namely the ridges or depressions 15 and the slots 35 and 36, and particularly the relationship shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, is extremely efficacious in permitting the blade to be held in fixed association with the holder. This is extremely important where the blade is as narrow as already above stated, and is not only difiicult to handle because of its small size but also presents problems of locking it in a razor or holder which are not presented with a conventionally sized blade. The presence in the blade of Fig. 3 of both the cutouts 35 and 36 and the ridge or depression 15 connecting the two, permits us to use in the holder corresponding elements which cooperate therewith so as to permit the blade to be readily and quickly associated with these corresponding elements on the holder, so as to always cause the blade to assume its proper, definite, pro-determined, desirable association with the holder without requiring any particular skill on the part of the individual using the razor.

A blade having irregularities such as the ridge 15 of Fig. 4 presents problems of stacking and handling which add considerably to the expense of the product itself, and in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings we have attempted to illustrate our invention to eliminate the ridge as a problem in these respects. Upon viewing Fig. 5 of the drawings, it will be observed that the raised portion of the blade forms a convexity 15 on one surface and a concavity 15 on the other surface, and the concavity is so arranged and constructed with reference to the convexity that the blades can be stacked by having the convexity of one blade received with the concavity of another blade. By this arrangement we are enabled to stack the blades in nested position and in this way we attain the result of not only being able to stack the blades compactly but also in a predetermined relationship, with their cutting edges in alignmentall as shown in this figure of the drawing.

In Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, we have shown the manner in which the blades adapt themselves for association for packaging and shipping purposes in magazine form. The holder or magazine is made up of a base member 50 from which arise two members 51 which, in the embodiment shown, are

araaoaa posts. The posts 51 are so dimensioned and positioned with relation to each other that .when the blades are stacked on the base 50,

ably made of a width so. as to be received within the slots without binding. 'lhe base 50 is further provided with a ridge 52 which is of such a character as to seat a blade concavely thereon. llhe'shifting of the blades is prevented by the engagement of the concavity of the bottom blade with the ridge 52 and of its convexity with the concavity of the next adjacent blade above, as already exltd lli

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plained, as well as by the cooperative action of the posts. The base 50 is made wider than the width of the blades and the posts are arranged with reference to this base so that the base extends beyond the opposite cutting edges of the blade in both directions. The base is made narrower than the blades, for reasons that will shortly be pointed out, and we have found that the base 50 should be of a thickness much greater than that of the blade itself, for reasons that will also be pointed out. The blades are stacked on the holder as shown in Fig. 7 and when it is desired to remove a blade this can be done by grasping the unsharpened side edges between the thumb and linger and moving the blade from off the stack and from out of association with the posts 51. This is materially assisted by the dimensions already described as being'given to the base 50 and to the posts 51 with reference to each other and with reference to the dimensions and construction of the blade. We may provide the base maga- Zine holder with the side walls 55 so as to further protect the sharpened edges and also prevent accidental contact therewith.

lln Fig. 8 we have shown another embodiment of our invention wherein the strip 60 has the ridges til separated from each other by the fiat unridged portions 62. 'llhis provision of the spaced ridges can be attainedin any desired or preferred manner. lhe strip is further provided with equi-distantly spaced cut-outs 53 along and open to the longitudinal edges of the strip, the strip being scored along the lines he so asto be broken away along the scored lines. 'llhe blade 56 of Fig. 9 has the ridges terminating shortof the extreme edges 68 of the blade which form the outer side edges of the fingers 69. The blade -56 of Fig. 9 will stack snugly as do the blades of the preceding modification, and asshown in Fig. 5 of the drawings; and for the'purposes' of magazine retention we show a magazine holder in Fig. 10 which has a base 7Q provided with side Walls 71 slotted as shown at '32, so as to receive through the slots the lingers 69 of the blade 66 of Fig.

lit The base (O-may also be provided with the ridge 75 of the same character as ridge 52 of Fig. 5, and also with side walls 76 of the character of the side walls 55 of Fig. 6. In fact, except for the substitution in Fig. 6 for the posts 51 of the slotted walls '72, the magazine of Fig. 10 is in all respects like the magazine of Fig. 5.

It will be understood, of course, that where the strip is ridged and formed as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the guiding of the strip will be attained by the coaction of the convex portion of the ridges til with a concavity in the guide, and in this respect will differ from the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

While we have illustrated and described in this application a formation of ridges by forcing a portion of the metal out of the plane of the strip so as to give to the ridges a concave format-ion on one surface and a convex formation on the opposite surface, it will be understood, of course, that the ridges can take the form of merely protuberances which present only a convex surface and no concave surface. So, also, the concavity or groove can be formed without employing a ridge, in which event there is present only a concave surface and he convex surface.

llt is common practice among manufacturers to associate with the blade indicia or other similar characters appertaining to the blade,

the source of origin or otherwise, either by 1::

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' lltllll IlUlll cluding the step of forming a discontinuous groove in the strip extending generally longitudinally of the strip.

2. The process of manufacturing blades from a strip of metal, said process including the step of forming a plurality of raised portions in the strip spaced from each other and extending generally longitudinally of the strip. i

3, l he process of manufacturing blades from a strip of metal, said process including the'step of forming a plurality of raised portions in the strip spaced from each other and extending generally longitudinally and centrally of the strip, the raised portions being in alignment with each other.

d. The process ofmanufacturing safety razor blades from strip material, said process blades from a strip of metal, said process comprising removing portions of the strip at spaced points and raising the metal, in between adjacent removed portions, out of the plane of the strip.

6. v The process of manufacturing razor blades from strips of metal, said process including the step or steps of removing spaced portions of the strip intermediate the longi- 10 tudinaledges thereof to form openings and forming raised portions centrally and longitudinally of the strip, said raised portions being in alignment with each other and separated from each other by said openings.

7. The process of manufacturing blades from-a strip of metal, said process comprising removing portions of the strip at spaced pomts and raising the'metal in between ad- ]acent removed portions, out of the plane of the strip, the strip being scored intermediate the raised portions.

8. The process of manufacturing blades from strips of metal, said process including the step or steps of removing spaced portions of the strip intermediate the longitudinal edges thereof to form openings and forming raised portions centrally and longitudinally of the strip, said raised portions being in alignment with each other and separated from each other by said openings, the'strip being scored intermediate the raised portions. 9. The process of manufacturing blades from a strip of metal, said process comprising removing portions of the strip at spaced 3 points and raising the metal in between adjacent removed portions, out of the plane of the strip, the strip beingscored intermediate the raised portions and broken away along the scored line.

10.. The process of manufacturing blades from a strip of metal, said process including the step or steps of removing spaced portions of the strip intermediate the longitudinal edges thereof to form openings and forming I raised portions centrally and longitudinally of the strip, said raised portions being in alignment with each other and separated from each other by said openings, the strip being scored intermediate the raised portions, and then breaking the blades away along the scored line.

11. A blank to be used for the manufacture of razor blades, said blank having a discontinuous groove extending generally longitudinally thereof.

' 12. A blank for the manufacture of razor blades, said blank comprising a strip of metal, having portions thereof removed at spaced points, and ridges intermediate the removed portions.

13. A blank for the manufacture of razor blades, said blank comprising a strip of metal having spaced ridges extending longitudinal- 17 thereof and in alignment with each other.

l 14. Ablank for the manufacture of razor MARCUS B. BEHRMAN. ROBERT T. POLLOCK. 

